The Government is committed to making housing in New South Wales more affordable.

First Home Buyers

• From 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, 8,948 First Home Owners' grants were distributed, worth a total of $107 million and 32,685 first home buyers received stamp duty concessions, worth $476 million.

Housing Supply

• The Government has boosted the supply of housing and is meeting the Premier's target of 61,000 new homes completed each year to 2020-21.

• Ensuring 90 per cent of housing approvals are determined within 40 days by 2019.

Regional and District Plans

• The Greater Sydney Commission has included measures to improve housing affordability in District Plans in Sydney and is also recommending Affordable Rental Housing Targets to deliver additional affordable housing.

State Environmental Planning Policies

• There are two State planning policies (SEPPs) that increase the supply of affordable housing -

  • The Affordable Rental Housing SEPP facilitates and encourages the delivery of affordable housing types such as boarding houses, secondary dwellings, supportive accommodation and group homes.

  • SEPP 70 (Affordable Housing) which allows councils to levy contributions from developers in areas subject to an up-zoning, for the purpose of affordable housing.

SEPP 70

• SEPP 70 identifies councils which have demonstrated a need for affordable housing and enables them to prepare affordable housing contribution schemes for certain areas in their local government areas.

• These schemes allow councils to require contributions to provide affordable housing when land is up-zoned.